RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil  Highlights Thursday of Day 6 at the Pan American Games:

MEDALS

Three more golds for the United States and a Pan Ams record for Brazil's Thiago Pereira came in the swimming pool.

Julia Smit (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) led the American onslaught with gold in the 100-meter backstroke, while Michelle McKeehan (Franklin, Ind.) won the 100 breaststroke, with Elizabeth Tinnon of Bowling Green, Ky., third.

Smit also anchored the U.S. team that edged Brazil in the 400 freestyle relay, winning gold by less than 1 second. She was joined on the relay by Sam Woodward (Edmond, Okla.), Emily Kukors (Auburn, Wash.) and Maritza Correia (Valrico, Fla).

Americans have won 18 swimming medals.

That's the same number the U.S. shooters have earned after getting four more, including two golds. Jason Parker of Omaha, Neb., won the 50-meter rifle three positions event, which got the Americans a berth at the Beijing Olympics.Haley Dunn of Eddyville, Iowa edged Kim Rhode of El Monte, Calif., for gold in women's skeet. And Keith Sanderson of San Antonio was second to Leuris Pupo of Cuba in 25-meter rapid fire pistol, with Pupo also earning an Olympic spot for his country.

Pereira won his third gold of the games, finishing in 1 minute, 45.42 seconds to set a Pan Ams record, .35 seconds faster than the time set in Wednesday's semifinals by Scott Clary (Riverside, Calif.) Clary took silver.

Eva Lee of Orange, Calif., won two gold medals in badminton, taking singles over Charmaine Reed of Canada, then combining with Howard Bach (San Francisco) to earn the mixed doubles title. Lee, 20, won three golds in Rio.

Cuba won the team sprint in men's cycling and Venezuela did not show up to accept its silver medals at the awards ceremony, protesting what it claimed was an illegal move by the Cubans.

The madison race was won by Argentina, the keirin by Colombia and the women's points race by Cuba.

Canada beat the United States 2-1 in women's team squash, with the Americans grabbing silver. Natalie Grainger (Washington) , who won the singles title on Monday, was the lone U.S. winner as she swept singles bronze medalist Runa Reta 9-2, 9-0, 9-4. Colombia beat Canada for the men's gold.

Judo winners were Oscar Brayson of Cuba in the over-100 kilos class, and Vanessa Zambotti of Mexico in women's over-78.

In total medals, the United States leads with 99, including 38 gold. Cuba is second with 20 gold, while overall Brazil and Canada are tied for second with 48.

TEAMS

The U.S. baseball team's gold medal game against nine-time defending champion Cuba was postponed to Friday because of wet fields after torrential rains. The bronze medal will be shared by Mexico and Nicaragua.

Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.) scored twice in the first half as the U.S. women's field hockey team routed Canada 6-0 to win its pool. The Americans qualified for the semifinals; if they win gold here, they would make the Beijing Olympics field.

The U.S. women earned a bronze by beating Peru 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 in volleyball, led by Foluke Akinradewo of Plantation, Fla., and Tayyiba Haneed of Laguna Hills, Calif., each with 12 spikes. Then Cuba stunned Brazil in a thrilling five-setter to take the gold medal.

In women's water polo, the world champion Americans moved into the gold medal game - and into position for a trip to Beijing - with a 16-3 rout of Cuba. The U.S. team scored five goals in the first quarter and never were challenged. They are 6-0 and will play Canada for the gold. Earlier, the Americans beat Canada 10-8 in their most difficult match.

STRIPPED

The Mexican women's gymnastics team was disqualified and stripped of its bronze medal after the Pan American Sports Organization ruled that Marisela Arizmendi Torres, enrolled as a delegation worker, had competed as an athlete. The organization expelled delegation chief Alejandro Peniche Franco from the games and gave the bronze medal to Canada, which had finished fourth.

BEIJING BOUND

Jason Parker of Omaha, Neb., won the 50-meter rifle three positions event, which got the Americans a berth at the Beijing Olympics. Leuris Pupo of Cuba won 25-meter rapid fire pistol, also earning an Olympic spot for his country.

STARS OF THE DAY

Thiago Pereira, Brazil, won his third gold medal of the games and set his second individual Pan Ams record in the pool. As the crowd chanted "Thiago, Thiago," Pereira finished the 200 backstroke in 1 minute, 45.42 seconds, bettering by .35 seconds the previous record set in Wednesday's semifinals by American Scott Clary. Pereira had already won in the 400-meter individual medley - also setting a Pan Ams record - and the 800 freestyle relay. The 21-year-old Pereira has set a personal goal of seven gold medals at the games.

Eva Lee of Orange, Calif., swept her three badminton events, capping her golden stay in Rio by winning singles and mixed doubles (with Howard Bach of San Francisco) on Thursday.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"When I leave the podium, I'm already thinking about the next events. I'm really focused and giving my best in every one. So far there have been three events, three medals and three records. I'm very happy." - Brazil swimmer Thiago Pereira after winning his third gold medal.

"Actually I made a deal with my parents that if I won three gold medals they would get me a new cell phone. We dont get much money for winning, especially compared to countries like Peru, Guatemala and all of the other countries. They get $50,000 for winning (one gold) and I get a cell phone, but I have to win three (gold)." - Eva Lee of Orange, Calif., after her medals haul in badminton.